The move follows similar decisions by several other FESPA Member Associations in recent years, with members in France, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK now using the 'FESPA Association' brand to affirm their link to the international umbrella organisation. The Member Associations using the FESPA brand under licence from FESPA remain autonomous organisations and are not subsidiaries of FESPA.

FESPA Italia President Corrado Bizzini comments: "Naming our organisation FESPA Italia Associazione is a natural evolution which consolidates our already close relationship with the international FESPA federation. As FESPA Italia, we will continue to benefit from FESPA's vast source of content and know-how, while the brand will help us cement our position as the point of reference for the entire Italian speciality print market."

FESPA Italia is steered by a Leadership Council comprising eight Italian sector professionals: Corrado Bizzini (Printink), Paolo Lorusso (P&P Promotion), Alberto Masserdotti (Gruppo Masserdotti), Agostino Musitelli (In. Deco Serigrafia), Paolo Santi (SAC Serigrafia), Claudio Monaco (Serimon), Pietro Santagata (Ecoepoque) and Alessandro Dal Monte (Loop Design). They are supported by a Joint Technology Council, comprising a small group of suppliers who will help FESPA Italia to support the technological needs of the member community.

FESPA General Secretary Sean Holt says: "Our Member Associations are central to FESPA. Their work at the country level is fundamental to fulfilling FESPA's core mission to help printers diversify and become more profitable, and to stimulate demand for print. Through our Profit for Purpose reinvestment programme, we can put profits from our global exhibitions to good work, supporting printers locally with educational information and industry insights. FESPA Italia Associazione is a committed organisation, with a strong leadership team and a clear vision of how it can support the Italian print community. We wish the organisation even greater success under the FESPA banner."

Members of FESPA Italia have access to a range of exclusive benefits, designed to support them with their purchasing choices and go-to-market strategies, and to keep them up to date on technology developments. FESPA Italia also aims to promote Italian print excellence outside Italy, while capitalising on the global FESPA network to share know-how, experience and growth opportunities.

With support from FESPA Profit for Purpose, FESPA Italia Associazione will host its first event under the new brand on 27th October 2015 in Milan. FESPA Italia Day is a one-day event under the theme 'Stampa che Fa Effetto' (the WOW effect of printing), presenting Italian case studies and ideas that participants can implement quickly to grow their own business.

FESPA Italia Associazione will also host the second FESPA Southern European Congress, which will take place in April 2016, building on the success of this year's event in Barcelona. The Southern European Congress is a joint initiative of the the FESPA Member Associations in France, Spain and Italy, partly funded through the FESPA Profit for Purpose scheme.